Self-healing asphalt
Themes: Structural Engineering, Materials
Late lab scale demonstration
A TRL is a measure to indicate the matureness of a developing technology. When an innovative idea is discovered it is often not directly suitable for application. Usually such novel idea is subjected to further experimentation, testing and prototyping before it can be implemented. The image below shows how to read TRL’s to categorise the innovative ideas.
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Why?
Aging of asphalt roads can be countered by applying a rejuvenator. While a spray of asphalt rejuvenator only penetrates the top layer, these rejuvenator capsules in the asphalt concrete can rejuvenate the asphalt where and when necessary.
How?
The 1,8 mm capsules are made of a cheap and easy to process alginate, containing the rejuvenator in their matrix. When a micro crack occurs across the capsule, the matrix breaks and the rejuvenator leaks out, filling and repairing the asphalt.
When?
The capsules are already able to withstand the entire production process of an asphalt road, and their result has been proven on lab scale. The details of the application method are being investigated.
Shi Xu MSc